Refrigerating apparatus



June 30, A A. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 23, 1940 3l ,26 ze 27 INVENTOR. Afl/annif /fr/cfff.

June 30, I A A' KUCHER REFRIGERATING APPARAIUS Filed Dec. 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30,1942. A. A. KUCHER 2,288,166

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, -1940 5 sheets-sheet 5 \9 v n) l n Q X l INVENTOR,

' the present invention is clearly shown.

- Patented June 30, 1942 Unirse! stares Para-Nr ortica- REFRIGATING APPARATUS Andrew. Kuchel",` Oakwood, 0h10, assigno'r to General Motors Corporation, corporation of Delaware Dayton, Ohio, a

Application December 23, 1940, Serial No. 371,241 9 Claims. (Cl. 6ta- 116i This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to portable commercial refrigerating units.

An object of myinvention is to provide an improvedv refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit that can be readily connected with .an evaporator or evaporators of a refrigerating system and quickly disconnected Atherefrom to permit replacement of 'the unit.

Another object of ,my invention is to provide an improved refrigerating apparatus in the form of a unitary portable cabinetcontaining a sealed motor-compressor-condenser-receiver unit and the desired controls therefor, wherein the unit is suspendingiy supported within the cabinet solely through sheet metal side walls thereof.

Another object of my invention' is to rigidly mount a casing, having a rotary compressor, a

motor and a condenser-receiver unit sealed therein, Within a cabinet for shipping purposes which mounting includes flexible members for resiliently suspending the casing within the cabinet and whichiiexible members are rendered effective by rendering the rigid mountings ineffective after the cabinet is installed in its desired location.

A further object of my invention is to provide a unitary packaged structure comprising a cabinet having a rotary compressor, 'a motor and a condenser-receiver unit disposed therein and provided with refrigerant conduits extending to a wall of the cabinet for connection from exteriorly of the cabinet to refrigerant pipes leading to an evaporator or evaporators to form a closed refrigerating system.

In carrying outV the foregoing objects, it is a still further and more specific object of my invention to provide the refrigerant'conduits located at the wall of the" packaged unit With couplings, each containing a valve and adapted to be connected to similar couplings provided on the ends of refrigerant pipes leading to an evaporator whereby the valves may be closed and the couplingsdisconnected to permit replacement of the unit by another unit Without pumping refrigerant from one portion of the refrigerating system to another portion thereof and without losing any appreciable amount of refrigerant from the system. v

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had'to the accompanying drawings, wherein apreferred form of In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit of the prent in- 'vention disposed at optional locations with respect to a refrigerator to be cooled;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a closed refrigerating system having the refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit of the present invention interposed therein;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionn view or the umtary portable cabinet structure containing the refrigerant compressing and liquefying unitv and is taken on the line 3-3 -of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 isV a top view of the structure shown in Fig. 3 with the top wall of the cabinet removed;l Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing shipping bolts in place to rigidly clamp the refrigerant compressing andliquefying unit to the frames of the cabinet. Y

Referring to the drawings, forillustrating my invention, 1 have shown in Fig. l thereof, a refrigerating apparatus of the commercial type including a large meat storage box or the like to be refrigerated by an evaporator connected with a refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit constructed in accordance with the present invention. The refrigerated box I0 may be of conventional construction and may include a storage compartment and a compartment disposed thereabove and containing an evaporator II of any suitable or conventional design. Evapora-v tor II has refrigerant conveying pipesl I2 and I3 connected thereto and extending outwardly of box I0 and .lea-ding to a portable structure, generally represented by the reference character I5, and which comprises a cabinet housing refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit with which the pipes I2 and I3 communicate. The portable cabinet structure I5 is disposed remote from the refrigerator I0 and may be located on the same floor therewith or in a basement below the floor of the building in which the box Il) is located. This latter or alternate location of the portable cabinet structure I5 is illustrated in Fig. l by the dot-dash lines.

er unit, generally represented by the reference character I6 and the pipes l2 and I3 leading from the evaporator Il are connected by valved couplings I1 and I8, disposed on the outside of a wall of cabinet I5, to the unit I6.

As diagrammatically shownin Fig. 2, the unit IG comprises a conventional rotary compressor The self-contained portable cabinet structure IE encloses a hermetically sealed motor-compressor-condenser-receiv- 2|, supported from a main frame 22, forming a part of the sealed casing of the unit. I'he drive shaft 23, of compressor 2|, is journalled in the main bearing 24 formed integral with the main frame 22. Secured to the upper end of the drive shaft 23 is a conventional. motor rotor 26. A cylindrical motor stator support 21, which supports a conventional motor stator 28, is also formed integral with the frame 22. In the lowermost portion of the hermetically sealed casing and discharged through the discharge passage 34, provided in the main frame 22. The compressed refrigerant vapor passes upwardly between the motor rotor and the motor stator into the upper portion of a dome 36 of the casing of unit I6, which dome cooperates with the frame element 22 to form a condensing cavity. In order to remove the heat of compression and to cause condensation of the compressed refrigerant, a cooling fluid, such as water, is supplied through conduit 31 and flows through coil 38 disposed in the space between the motor stator support 21 and the outer dome 36. The cooling fluid leaves the unit through the conduit 39. 'I'he water conduits 31 and 39 include a rubber hose or flexible portion and the ends thereof are attached to fittings 40 'and 40a respectively mounted upon a bracket secured to a lower frame of cabinet I5. These ttings are disposed adjacent a side wall of cabinet I and project through this wall for connection with a water supply pipe 46h and a drain pipe 40o. The amount of cooling water iiowing through coil 3 8 is controlled by a conventional pressure responsive valve 4| which responds to the high side pressure within the condensing chamber. In order that valve 4I may respond to condensing pressure, a pipe line 42 is provided between the pressure chamber of valve 4| and the interior of the main construction or cabinet I5, will now be described with reference to Figs. v3, 4, 5 and 6. Structurally, the cabinet I5 comprises an upper horizontally disposed angle iron'frame 6| and a lower movably placed upon the side walls 63 to procondensing chamber. The condensed refrigerant collects in the lower portion of the space between the wall 21 and the outerA dome 36 and flows toward the evaporator II through a conduit 44,

- having a flexible conduit portion 46, to the valved coupling 41, disposed adjacent the inner surface of the wall of cabinet I5. From the fitting 41,

liquid refrigerant flows through the valved coupling vI8 and by Way of pipe I3 into the evaporator I I under the control of a suitable restrictor or the like device. 'I'he compressor motor may be started and stopped in response to the pressure in the low pressure side of the refrigerating system. Th'us a'pipe line 5| communicating with the interior of valved coupling 3|, disposed in the low or suction pressure conduit line of the refrigerating system, extends to an expansible and contractible bellows 52 of a snap acting switch 53 which controls the electric circuit to the motor and consequently controls operation of the rotary compressor directly connected to the motor. Y

Having diagrammatically illustrated the refrigerating system, the structure of the portable through the arms 69, pieces videan enclosure or compartment within the cabinet I5 for housing the refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit I6. side Walls of cabinet I5 is removable from the cabinet frames 6I and 62, and this side wall together with the removable top provides access to the unit compartment should adjustment of various elements be necessary. The vertical edges of the short side or end walls 63 of. cabinet I5 are preferably bent around a corner of the cabinet (see Fig. 4)` to increase the rigidity or structural strength of these side lwalls. `A brace 61 extends between opposite sides of the lower frame 62 and is welded thereto for a purpose to be presently described. Each side of the upper frame 6I has a heavy metal piece 68 welded thereto and extending inwardly therefrom. The dome 36, of sealed casing orunit I6,

has arms 69 welded thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom. The outer ends of the arms 69 are located above the metal pieces 68, secured to frame 6|, to suspend or support unit I6 from the frame.

tion of cabinet I5, at a desired location, unit I6 therein is connected to the cabinet only in the manner heretofore described and the unit I6 is resiliently suspended from the upper frame and supported within the cabinet compartment solely by the sheet metal side walls of the cabinet. However, during shipment or transportation of cabinet I5, unit I6 is preferably rigidly clamped or secured thereto at several places in order to prevent twisting of the cabinet by the weight of the unit. Therefore, I provide rather heavy bolts 14 (see Fig. 6) and extend these bolts 68 and a bushing 15, placed between the arms 69 and pieces 66, to rigidly clamp the uppermost portion of unit I6 to the frame 6|. These shipping bolts 14 and clamping bushings 15 are disposed intermediate each pair of rubber cushions 1|. I also Y from swinging and twisting rigidly clamp the lower portion of unit I6 to the bottom frame 62 of cabinet I5 to prevent the unit pending leg of piece 16 abut one another and have bolts 82v vextending therethrough. Metal pieces 16 and 19 being tied together and secured to the brace 61, thus rigidly clamp the unit I6 'to the lower cabinet frame 62 through the horizontal brace 61. The clamping of the upper One of the long A pair of rubber cushions or blocks 1I are disposed between each arm 69 and its re- `spective metal piece 68, to resiliently suspend about its upper conportion of unit I6 at the two spaced apart points with the upper frame 6I and the clamping thereof at the one point with the lower frame 62 thereby rigidly secures the unit'to the cabinet during shipment and prevents the cabinet from being damaged by the Weight of the sealed unit mounted therein. The clamping devices or bolts are readily removed after installation of the cabinet to permit the resilient suspension of the unit within the cabinet as previously described and shown in `Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. For example, after the cabinet has `been installed at a predetermined location, the bolts 8| and 82, and the metal piece 19 are removed. Thereafter the bolts 14 and bushings 'I5 are removed from the upper unit supports to render the cushions 1I effective for resiliently suspending unit IB within cabinet I5. The 'cushions 1I and the fiexible portions 33 andfS. of conduits 32 and Mi permit slight vibrating movement of unit I relay tive to cabinet l5 upon the cushions 1I.

The valved housings or. couplings I1, I8, 3I and Q1 each include a body having a passage there-I through and a valve for controlling the passage. The valves I1a, I8a, 3Ia and Ma, as illustrated in Fig. 2, of each coupling, are preferably disposed in and enclosed by the body portion of the couplings. As before stated the valved couplings 3| and 31 connected with the conduits 32 and M, respectively, are disposed adjacent one another within the cabinet I5 and preferably project through a suitable opening provided in one side wall thereof to permit the other valved couplings I1 and IB to be detachably connected therewith from exteriorly of the cabinet. Coupling 3| is mounted by bolts 81. upon a block 86 (see Fig. 3) which is welded or otherwise secured to the cabinet frame BI so as to retain the coupling SI in its proper location adjacent the opening in the side wall of cabinet I5. Coupling 3i has an offset portion 83 formed integral therewith 'to receive bolts 89 which clamp the coupling t1 thereto. In this manner both couplings or valve housings 3| and d1 are attached to the block or plate 86 secured to the upper frame 5I. The detachably connected together couplings I1-I8 and 3I-fi1 each of which have a valve therein, are provided for the purpose of facilitating connecting the unit I6, within cabinet I5, into the closed refrigerant circulating system and to permit replacement of the refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit. The refrigerant pipe lines I2 and I3, connected to the evaporator II, are extended to a point where the cabinet I5 is to 'be located and the ends of these pipe lines are normally sealed by valves I1a and Isa of the valved couplings I1 and I8. The valved couplings I1 and I8 may be secured to the pipes I2 and I3 or they may be shipped as a part of the' cabinet structure I5 and secured to the pipes I2 and I3 after location of cabinet I5 in the desired position of installation. The valves Sla and 61a of couplings 3l and d1 respectively, projecting through a side wall 63 of cabinet I5, are also closed to seal the ends of conduits 32 and 44 of unit I6. Therefore, when cabinet I5 is placed in its predetermined position of installation, coupling I1 is detachably connected with coupling 3i and coupling I8 is detachably connected with coupling 41 to thereby form the closed refrigerant-circulating system between the evaporemoved from the refrigerating system. without pumping refrigerant from one portion of the system to another portion thereof and without losing any appreciable amount of refrigerant from the system. For example, should it be necessary to replace unit I5, the valves I1a, I8a, 3Ia and 41a are all closed. Thereafter coupling I1 is detached from coupling 3| and coupling I8 is detached from coupling 41; Then after closing oi the water supply and disconnecting water pipesb and elle attached to the fittings 4I! and Bile at the ends of the water conduits 31 and 39, the cabinet I5 and consequently unit I6 may be removed. Upon reversing these operations, a replacement unit may be readily interposed in the refrigerating system in order that the evap-y orator can quickly resume the function of producing a refrigerating effect within the food storage box I0. Itis to be understood that the water supply and drain pipes leading to the conduits 31 and 39 connected to the unit must also be reconnected when replacing the cabinet I5.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have.

provided an improved refrigerant compressingand liquefying unitwhlch is neat in' appearance and can be 'located at any desired or convenient locality remote from the refrigerator box. The cabinet containing the refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit is in itself a complete construction to formone portion of a refrigerating system and the necessary valves, controls and switches are disposed therein to thus avoid mounting these elements on walls or partitions of the building in which the refrigerating apparatus is located. By rigidly securing some of the sheet metal side walls to the horizontal frames of the cabinet, these side walls form the sole support for suspendingly mounting the casing of the refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit Within the cabinetl I have provided means for rigidly clamping the refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit to the cabinet for shipping the portable structure which rigid clamping means when removedy after installation of the cabinet, renders resilient suspending means for the unit effective. The valved couplings in the refrigerant pipes, in addition-to facilitating the installation and connection of a refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit into a closed refrigerant circuit or'system, are detachable from one another, after the valves therein are closed to permit replacement of thev unit without losing any material amount of refrigerant from the refrigerating system. By providing means whereby the refrigerant compress-A ing and liquefying unit of a refrigerating system canlbe readily and quickly removed and replaced, Ihave improved commercial refrigerating systems in that the refrigerator box is not deprived rator II and unit I6. Should the unit I6 become inoperative, due to damage thereto, beyond repair, while the same is connected in the closed refrigerating system, this unit can .be 'readily oi' refrigeration for a long period of time. The change over from one unit to another requires but a few minutes and therefore food' storedL within the refrigerator cabinet is not permitted todeteriorate or spoil.

While the form of embodiment of the inven-4 tion as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming Within the scope of f I the claims which follow.

What 'is claimed is as follows:

l. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a portable cabinet having upright and other walls forming a compartment therein,

, a refrigerant compressing andliquefying. unit resiliently mounted within. said compartment,

refrigerant` conduits connected to said unit and to couplings disposed adjacent the inner face of an upright wall of said compartment, couplings disposed adjacent the outer face of said upright compartmentl wall and adapted to be connected to refrigerant conveying pipes communicating with an evaporator, said second named couplings communicating with said first named couplings and adapted to forma closed refrigerant circuit between the evaporator and said unit, a valve in each of said couplings, said valves being operable to close off communication between said couplings, said second named couplings being detachable from 'said first named couplings to permit movement of said cabinet relative to said refrigerant conveying pipesl and said refrigerant conduits including a flexible conduit portion for permitting movement of said unit relative to said compartment walls.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a lower horizondered effective upon detachment of said detachable means for preventing transmission of sound from said unit to said cabinet.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising' in combination, a cabinet having a lower horizontally disposed frame. 'an upper horizontally disposed frame and side walls secured to said frames to form a compartment, a refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit enclosed by said side walls within said compartment, means for suspending said unit from said upper frame and supporting same within said compartment above said lower frame solely by said side walls, said suspending means including detachable means for rigidly clamping said unit to said upper frame during transportation of said cabinet, and said suspending means also including a rubber cushion disposed between said unit and said upper frame and rendered effective upon detachment of said detachable means for preventing transmission of sound from said unit to said cabinet.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in` combination, a cabinet having walls forming the top and four sides of a compartment therein, an upper horizontally disposed frame and a lower horizontally disposed frame, at least three of said side walls of said compartment being secured to said frames, a refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit within said compartmenty means for. suspending said unit from said upper frame and supporting same within said compartment above said lower frame solely by the side Walls jsecured to said frames, and the top and at least one side wall of said compartment being removable from said framesto provide access to said unit.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having walls forming the top and four sides of a compartment therein, an upper horizontally disposed frame and a lower horizontally disposed frame, at least three of said side walls of said compartment being secured tally disposed frame, an upper horizontally disprovide access combination.

said frames, a refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit within said compartment, means for suspending said unit from said upper frame and supporting same within said compartment above said lower frame solely by the side walls secured to said frames, the top and at least one side wall of said compartment being removable freind;

said frames to provide access to said unit, saidlvr compressor part of said casing and having couplings therein disposed adjacent the inner face of a wall of said compartment, couplings disposed adiacent the oter face of said compartment wall and adapted to be connected to refrigerant conveying pipes communicating with an evaporator, said second named couplings communicating with said rst named couplings and adapted to forni a closed refrigerant circuit between the evaporator and said rotary compressor, a valve in each of said couplings, said valves being operable to close oi communication between said couplings, and said secondl named couplings being detachable from said first named couplings to permit movement of said cabinet relative to said refrigerant conveying pipes.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a portable ,"cabinet having a horizontally disposed frame at the top thereof and a horizontally dsposed'frame at the bottom thereof, side walls secured to said frames to form a compartment, a. refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit enclosed by said side walls and having provisions for connecting same with refrigerant conduits axdapted 5to communicate with an evaporator located exteriorly of said cabinet, said unit including a motor, a compressor and a, condenser enclosed in a sealed casing, and said casing being suspended from said frame at the top of said cabinet and supported within said compartment above the frame at the bottom of said cabinet solely by said side walls.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a portable cabinet having walls forming the top and four sides of a compartment therein, an upper horizontally disposed frame and a lower horizontally disposed frame, certain of said side walls of said compartment being secured to said frames, a refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit within said compartment and `riaving provisions for connecting same with refrigerant conduits adapted to communicate wit-h an evaporator located exteriorly of said cabinet, means for suspending said unit from said upper` frame and supporting same within said compartment above said lower frame solely by the side walls secured to said frames, and the top and at least one side wall oi' said compartment being removable from said'frames to to said unit. 9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising l in aportable cabinet having walls forming the top and four sides of la compartment therein, an upper horizontally disposed frame vand a lower horizontally disposed frame, cer- "umsiilently supporting said unit insaid compartlower portion of said unit to said lower frame during transportation of said cabinet, the top Wall of said compartment being removable' from'said cabinet to provide access to said detachable 5 means for the upper portion of said unit, at least one side wall of said compartment being removable from said frames to provide access to said detachable means for the lower portion of said unit, and said suspending means also includl0 ing resilient means rendered effective upon detachment of the two detachable means for rement.

ANDREW A. KUCI-IER. 

